Messages - jd4me2010

I bought mine the first few terms at the bookstore, but now I buy most everything (and sell it back when the semester is over) at half.com. If you don't mind someone else's highlighting that is the way to go. I have also averaged getting $30-$40 more back per book on half.com and they sell really quickly. HTH.

I've been at the Lansing campus for six terms. The students are generally pretty friendly and I've made some great friends. No matter what campus you choose, you will be with the same students for the first three terms so reach out to people - they will keep you sane! Be warned, the first year is really tough.

Just had to pipe in here....T4's exist for a reason - so people like me can go to law school. Now before you all start making jokes, here is my story...

I am a 35 yr old mother of 4 who went back and finished her BA two years ago. I have a 155 IQ and graduated from high school with a 4.0 then I went to a great college on a full ride scholarship and failed out (I was young and only interested in partying). As a result, I had one horrible GPA. I dropped out with only a year left. When I went back to school (as a much wiser adult), I was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA. However, this was NOT enough to bring my GPA up. My school had me listed as graduating with a 3.0 but thanks to the LSDAS they "calculated" my GPA at a dismal 2.2. Who the hell lets someone into law school with a 2.2 GPA??? You guessed it! Cooley.

Not only was I accepted, but because of their generous scholarship program I was awarded a 75% scholarship for my LSAT score. Now was Cooley my first choice? Of course not. It's not anyone's. But what Cooley did was offer me a chance. Don't get me wrong, they do a lot of things I don't agree with (like dismissing students for falling below a 2.0 when they have a 2.0 curve for starters!) but I have worked me ass off, am in the top 1/3 of my class and am halfway through lawschool.

You all can disrespect Cooley all you want but here in Michigan, Cooley grads are a force to be reckoned with. Recent bar passage scores were damn close to University of Michigan's and Cooley grads are known throughout the state to be fierce inside and outside the courtroom. If you are going to make it here, you better be tough and be passionate about the law.....you won't surive otherwise.

Ok, I shouldn't have to explain myself but here it goes. We go year round and I am part time. I started in the fall of 2006 and am just finishing my fourth semester (fall 07). See 1..2..3..4... Ok, now that we can all count together. I have finished 30 hours and will have 39 after this semester. (making me a second year student) I am scheduled to graduate in 2010 (thus the screenname) in the part time program but of course I can graduate sooner if I choose to do so.

On a side note..There are so many stupid comments on this board (present company excluded of course). Over half of the students at Cooley are on scholarships that range from 25% of tuition to a full ride(including me) and many came from very prestigious undergraduate schools. Many Cooley grads do in fact go into "big law" and Cooley grads are highly respected and recruited in Michigan. Our last bar passage rate was just a few points behind University of Michigan. But hey, you all make all the jokes you want. I'll go toe to toe with you in a courtroom any day.

I just started my fourth term at Cooley. I can honestly say I love it here. I have made some great friends and have had some great instructors (some bad ones too but it's great practical experience, after all here are many judges out there who are complete asses LOL). Cooley goes out of their way to give you the tools you need to succeed. Yes, a lot of people flunk out and a lot of people just give up. But, like the other poster said, the people who are here WANT to be lawyers, not for the $$$ but for the love of the law.

I have talked to several hiring partners here in town who prefer Cooley grads to University of Michigan grads!!! Seem impossible. It's not. Any one who is willing to put in the work it takes and not give up can achieve their dreams here. Are there people who really aren't cut out for law school here?? Yes, and they get weeded out early. There are also a lot of people here are are exceptionally bright and come from very good schools. I chose to go here because I didn't have a choice. I am a very bright person with an IQ of 138 who screwed up in undergrad the first time around. I went back 10 years later and finished my BA. I had a 4.0 over my last three semesters in undergrad, but it wasn't enough to pull up my earlier grades SO I came to Cooley because they gave me a chance. I will always be eternally greatful for them for that.

I just started my second year and I totally agree with most of what everyone has said. I have found the following to be true:

1) most "review sessions" are worthless

2) so are most study groups

3) don't obsess over briefing every single case but do read, book brief and make notesin the margins

4) it really doesn't matter if the outline is yours or not

5) about a week prior to exams start doing simulated exams - if you have M/C and essy--do both!! I'm constantly amazed at how many people don't do this.

6) most profs do basically the same format every year. LOOK AT OLD EXAMS!!! This is absolutely crucial to judge if you've got it!

7) use Cali lessons for problem areas-they usually clear things right up for me.

BTW, I am in the top 1/3 of my class and I have never written my own outline, haven't written out a brief since my first semester, and seem to be one of the least stressed in our law library this week.

Vap is right, that is an EXCELLENT book and one that my prof used this term as well. It made future interests (relatively) easy. I actually think property is going to be my easiest final this term.HTH,

IMO it is far better to voluteer to answer a question that to be put on the spot. Who wants to go through that torture? I noticed my first semester that profs check off names as people volunteer or are called on. Why not take advantage of that? If I'm sitting in class and have something to contribute, I raise my hand. I'm no gunner, but I don't like to be put on the spot either.

Umm... for all of you who play solitare or search the web during class - THANK YOU for making it easier for me to be in the top 10% of my class! There is no way I would be paying all of this money for a legal education to waste a second of it.

It depends on the class for me. If it's a heavy notetaking class, I use my laptop. If the prof. is more interactive, I sometimes take notes by hand and transfer them to the laptop later. Come exam time, there is NO WAY that I would handwrite. I type 120 words/minute and I can get double or triple the info down vs. someone who is handwriting.

I would take the full ride at MSU. No debt is much better and whether you are looking to practice outside the state of Mi or inside the state I think that you will get more bang for your buck at MSU. I am in my second semester at Cooley (top 25% of my class) and have talked to a lot of attorneys here in Michigan - many, believe it or not, had rather hire a Cooley grad than one from U of Michigan (no laughs, I'm quite serious). In terms of state reputation Wayne runs behind MSU and Cooley. Hope that helps!